The Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, has adjourned until July 1, 2026, for the definite hearing of a suit seeking the nullification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary election in the state.

Justice Mashkur Salisu ordered the adjournment on Monday following the alleged failure of the defendants to file and serve their statements of defence.

The suit was filed by an APC chairmanship aspirant, Abdulhadi Lau, who is challenging the conduct and outcome of the party’s primary election.

Lau is asking the court to invalidate the exercise, alleging that he was unlawfully excluded from participating despite purchasing the party’s nomination forms and meeting all the requirements to contest the position.

According to the claimant, he completed all the necessary procedures and was duly qualified for the primary election but was denied the opportunity to participate in the process without any valid explanation.

He contended that his exclusion violated his constitutional rights and undermined the principles of internal democracy within the party.

Through his legal team, Lau urged the court to intervene and ensure that justice is served, arguing that allowing such actions to stand could set a dangerous precedent for the country’s democratic system.

He further appealed to the judiciary to protect the integrity of the electoral process, maintaining that the exclusion of qualified aspirants from party primaries threatens democratic governance.

During Monday’s proceedings, counsel informed the court that the defendants had yet to file their statements of defence, prompting Justice Salisu to adjourn the matter until July 1 for a definite hearing.

The court is expected to hear arguments from all parties on the adjourned date as the legal challenge over the APC chairmanship primary election in Taraba State continues.

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reportedly threatened to leave the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the replacement of several Kwankwasiyya faction candidates in Kano.

The NDC was reported to have replaced several candidates earlier submitted by the Kwankwasiyya faction in Kano State over an alleged breach of a power-sharing agreement contained in a document signed by the Kano State NDC Chairman, Hon. Hussaini Isah Mairiga.

According to the document, the changes were made to reflect an earlier agreement on the distribution of party positions and elective tickets between the existing NDC structure and the Kwankwasiyya bloc.

The document was copied to the National Leader of the opposition political party, Senator Seriake Dickson, Kwankwaso, and the NDC North-West Zonal Chairman.

Under the revised list, the party approved the following candidates for federal constituencies: Barrister Isma’il Idris Sani – Kumbotso; Nasiru Ali Ahmed – Nassarawa; Kabiru Ishaq Sa’id – Kano Municipal; Barrister Dayyabu Jamilu Ibrahim – Doguwa/Tudun Wada; Muhammad Hamisu Abubakar – Dawakin Tofa/Rimin Gado/Tofa; Ibrahim Bashir Bango – Sumaila/Takai; and Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mairigar Fata – Gwale.

Adjustments were also made to the Kano State House of Assembly tickets in Dala, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo, and Dawakin Kudu constituencies.

The NDC explained that there was a standing agreement for elective positions and party offices to be shared on a 60–40 basis, with the Kwankwasiyya bloc receiving 60 per cent and the original party structure retaining 40 per cent.

Members of the David Mark-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, have staged a protest at the the Federal High Court in Abuja, urging the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to stifle opposition parties in Nigeria.

The demonstration is coming amid the ongoing legal battle between the David Mark-led ADC and the faction headed by Nafiu Bala.

The protesters alleged that the lawsuit filed by Bala, which the Supreme Court referred back to the Federal High Court, is a ploy to distract the opposition political party.

DAILY POST recalls that in April, the apex court set aside an order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja directing the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum in the leadership tussle, a decision upon which INEC had acted in de-recognizing the David Mark leadership of the party.

The Supreme Court had, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel, ordered the parties to return to the Federal High Court for an expeditious hearing of the suit filed by an aggrieved party chieftain, Nafiu Bala.

Details shortly…